Vacuum pump

ABSTRACT

A vacuum pump ( 10 ) includes a pump unit ( 14 ) and an operating unit ( 12 ) arranged spaced from the pump unit ( 14 ). The operating unit ( 12 ) is connected with the pump unit ( 14 ) for controlling it. The pump unit ( 14 ) and the operating unit ( 12 ) respectively comprise a transceiver module ( 20,22 ) for transmitting and receiving control and operational data bidirectionally in a wireless manner. The pump unit ( 14 ) and the operating unit ( 12 ) are exclusively connected with each other in a wireless manner. By the omission of electrical lines, the induction of interfering signals is excluded. Wall perforations for lead-through of electrical lines are omitted.

The invention relates to a vacuum pump comprising a pump unit and anoperating unit set up so as to be spaced therefrom and a method forcontrolling a vacuum pump.

In a plurality of plants with vacuum pumps, the pump unit comprising apumping set and the operating unit for operating the pump unit arespaced from each other. Examples for that are factories for flat glasscoating, clean-room plants, glass fiber production plants, cathode raytube production plants, elementary particle accelerators and the like.The connection between the operating unit and the pump unit consists ofelectric data and control lines via which the control and check signalsare transferred between the pump unit and the operating unit. Theelectric data lines, however, are susceptible to induced interferingimpulses, particularly if the lines are very long. Further, control anddata lines may require line ducts through walls which are difficult toseal. In case of moving pumps, the signals have to be transferred vialong trailing lines and/or sliding contacts.

It is the object of the invention to improve the transfer of control andcheck signals between the operating unit and the pump unit with a vacuumpump.

This object is solved, according to the invention, with the features ofclaims 1 and 8, respectively.

In the vacuum pump according to the invention, the pump unit and theoperating unit respectively comprise a transceiver module for thewireless continuous transmission and reception of control andoperational data in both directions. The pump unit and the operatingunit are exclusively connected with each other in a wireless manner,i.e., there is no electric control line between the operating unit andthe pump unit any more. Upon installing the vacuum pump, no lines haveto be installed any more. By the omission of the lines, the induction ofinterfering signals is virtually excluded. Wall perforations for thelead-through of lines are omitted as well. Thus, the installation of thevacuum pump is considerably facilitated. Further, theinterference-liability of the data link between the operating unit andthe pump unit is reduced.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pump unit comprises a pumpcontrol and a supervisory module for the continuous supervision of thepump unit transceiver module. The pump control switches the pumping setto a safety mode when the supervisory module detects an interruption ofthe continuous reception of a control signal continuously transmitted tothe operating unit by the pump unit. As soon as the continuoustransmission between the operating unit and the pump unit isinterrupted, the pump control switches the pumping set to a safety mode.Thereby, when the wireless transmission is disturbed, the pumping set isimmediately brought into a safe operational state in which a threat topersons or a production plant connected thereto is excluded and adestruction of the pumping set can be avoided, respectively.

The supervision of the wireless transmit-receive operation is effectedcontinuously, i.e., in a tight time-slot pattern of a few seconds atmaximum.

Preferably, the operating unit also comprises a supervisory modulecontinuously supervising the reception of the transceiver module andcontinuously inducing the transmission of a control signal as long as afault-free reception is detected. When the supervisory module of thepumping set does not receive a correct control signal, it transmits asafety mode signal to the pump control. Thus, it is ensured that only incase of an uninterrupted transmission between the pump unit and theoperating unit as well as between the operating unit and the pump unit,the control signal can be received in the pump unit and the pumping setruns in normal operation. As soon as the transmission is interruptedsomewhere, the pump unit does not receive a control signal any morewhereupon the pumping set is immediately switched to a safety mode.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transceiver modules areconfigured as radio modules via which a wireless radio link between thepump unit and the operating unit exists. The advantage of the wirelessradio link consists in that it is also adapted to be established throughwalls and/or over great distances. Thus, several vacuum pumps are ableto be controlled and checked independently of each other in a large areawithout any problem.

As an alternative, the transceiver modules can also be configured aswireless infrared modules via which the wireless data link is realized.Such optical data transfers are completely immune to interferences withrespect to induced signals as may occur with high load working currentswith steep current and voltage edges in the respective plant.

Preferably, the pump unit or the operating unit comprises a wirelesstelephone module. By the wireless telephone module, it is made possibleto check the pumps and/or the operating unit from a remote maintenancecenter. Thus, error analyses can be made, new parameters for the controlof the vacuum pump or operational instructions for the control of thevacuum pump can be transferred from the maintenance center.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pump unit or the operating unitcomprises a position determination module. A GPS module is a receiverreceiving the radio signals of various geostationary navigationsatellites and evaluating them for determining its own position. Theposition determination module provides information signals about itsprecise location. By reading out the location signals, the respectiveposition of the operating unit and the pump unit, respectively, can bedetermined.

According to a method according to the invention for controlling avacuum pump comprising a pump unit with a pumping set and an operatingunit spaced from the pump unit, the pump unit and the operating unitbeing connected with each other bidirectionally and exclusively in awireless manner, the following method steps are provided:

-   -   continuously transmitting from the pump unit to the operating        unit and vice versa,    -   continuously supervising the reception in the pump unit and in        the operating unit,    -   operating the pumping set in a safety mode when an interruption        of the continuous reception in the pump unit and/or in the        operating unit is detected.

By the continuous supervision of the wireless transmission in bothdirections, it is ensured that even in case of short-term disturbancesin the wireless transmission in one of the two transmission directions,the pumping set is immediately switched to a safety mode in which athreat, destruction or damage by the pumping set is excluded,particularly if critical operational data or control data with importantcontrol instructions are not transmitted because of the interruptedtransmission.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method according to theinvention comprises the following method steps:

-   -   continuously transmitting a control signal from the operating        unit to the pump unit as long as a fault-free reception in the        operating unit is detected,    -   continuously supervising the reception of the control signal in        the pump unit, and    -   operating the pumping set in a safety mode when no control        signal is received.

By introducing a continuous control signal of the operating unit, asimple method is created that ensures a continuous supervision of thewireless connection between the pump unit and the operating unit in bothtransmission directions in a simple manner.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be explained in detailwith reference to the drawing.

The FIGURE shows a vacuum pump comprising a pump unit and an operatingunit.

In the FIGURE, a vacuum pump 10 is illustrated which substantiallyconsists of a pump unit 14 with a pumping set 16, and an operating unit12. The operating unit 12 and the pump unit 14 are spaced from eachother, the operating unit is arranged in a control center and the pumpunit at the site of production or use, for example.

Besides the pumping set 16, the pump unit 14 comprises a control module18 by which the control of the pumping set 14 and the remaining modulesis performed. Further, the pump unit 14 comprises a transceiver module20 configured as a radio module. Furthermore, the pump unit 14 comprisesa plug 24 connected with the control module 18 via control lines. Viathe plug 24, the pump unit 14 is also adapted to be controlled andmaintained via a non-illustrated operating apparatus connected to acontrol line in case of failure of the radio control.

The operating unit 12 comprises a display 32 for displaying control andoperational data. The operating unit 12 also comprises a control module28 by which all the modules and units of the operating unit 12 arecontrolled. The operating unit 12 comprises control keys 30 by whichcorresponding data inputs can be made manually. Further, the operatingunit 12 comprises a transceiver module 22 configured as a radio moduleand operating at the same frequency as the transceiver module 20 of thepump unit 14. The two transceiver modules 20,22 operate according to theBlue Tooth or the wireless LAN IEEE 802.11 standard or another standard.

Finally, the operating unit 12 comprises a wireless telephone module 34that is also connected with the control module 28. The wirelesstelephone module 34 operates according to the GSM standard, but may alsooperate according to the HDCSD, GPRS, UMTS or another wireless telephonestandard.

The pump unit 14 comprises a position determination module 26 signaling,continuously or on request, the location of the module 26 and thus thelocation of the pump unit 14 to the control module 18. The positiondetermination module 26 is configured as a GPS receiver, but is alsoable to determine the position in another manner.

Through the two transceiver modules 20,22, the control and check of thepump unit 14 is performed by the operating unit 12 in a wireless manner.Operational data detected in the pump unit 14 are transmitted via thecontrol module 18 and the transceiver module 20 to the operating unit 12as well as corresponding control or request signals from the controlmodule 28 of the operating unit 12 are transmitted via the transceivermodule 22 to the pump unit 14.

Further, the wireless telephone module 34 can be called from anon-illustrated maintenance center to receive and send correspondingmaintenance and control data from the operating unit 12 and to theoperating unit 12, respectively, which transmits them further to thepump unit 14, if necessary.

In both directions, the wireless connection between the operating unit12 and the pump unit 14 is checked continuously, i.e., in a time-slotpattern of a few seconds at maximum. This is even done if no control oroperational data at all are exchanged between the pump unit 14 and theoperating unit 12. To this end, the operating unit 12 comprises asupervisory module 44 in its control module 28, which is connected withthe transceiver module 22 of the operating unit 12. The pump unit 14, inturn, also comprises a supervisory module 42 as well as a pump control40 in its control module.

The supervisory module 42 of the pump unit 14 regularly induces thetransceiver module 22 of the pump unit 14 at intervals of a few secondsat maximum to emit a presence signal. This presence signal is receivedby the transceiver module 22 of the operating unit 12 and transferred tothe supervisory module 44. The supervisory module 44 evaluates thereceived presence signal and induces the transceiver module 22 totransmit a control signal. This control signal is received by thetransceiver module 22 of the pump unit and transferred to thesupervisory module 42 for evaluation. The control signal is evaluated inthe supervisory module 42. If the control signal arrives within adefined time slot, a new presence signal is put out.

If the control signal does not arrive in the predetermined time slot orno control signal at all arrives, the supervisory module 42 transmits acorresponding signal to the pump control 40 which immediately sets thepumping set 16 to a safety mode, i.e., usually sets back the pumping set16 to a low speed or else switches it off completely.

By the continuous supervision of the wireless connection between theoperating unit 12 and the pump unit 14 in both directions, it is ensuredthat upon disturbances, a malfunction of the pumping set is forestalledby the fact that the pumping set is immediately brought into the safetymode. With vacuum pumps, this is particularly useful because vacuumpumps are usually used in sensitive processes, e.g., in the generationof a vacuum in the chip production, upon the evacuation of cathode raytubes or with other production processes and experiments occurring undervacuum.

1. A vacuum pump, comprising a pump unit with a vacuum pumping set, anoperating unit connected with the pump unit for controlling it andarranged spaced from the pump unit, and transceiver modules in the pumpunit and the operating unit, respectively, for transmitting andreceiving control and operational data bidirectionally in a wirelessmanner, the pump unit and the operating unit being exclusively connectedwith each other in a wireless manner.
 2. The vacuum pump of claim 1,wherein the pump unit comprises a pump control and a supervisory modulefor continuous supervision of the transceiver module, the pump controlswitching the pumping set to a safety mode when the supervisory modulesignals an interruption of the reception of a control signalcontinuously transmitted by the transceiver module of the operatingunit.
 3. The vacuum pump of claim 2, wherein the operating unitcomprises: a supervisory module continuously supervising the receptionof the transceiver module and continuously inducing the transmission ofthe control signal to the pump unit when a fault-free reception isdetected.
 4. The vacuum pump of claim 1, wherein the transceiver modulesinclude radio modules via which a radio link between the pump unit andthe operating unit is established.
 5. The vacuum pump of claim 1,wherein the transceiver modules are infrared modules via which aninfrared link between the pump unit and the operating unit isestablished.
 6. The vacuum pump of claim 1, wherein at least one of thepump unit and the operating unit includes a wireless telephone module.7. The vacuum pump of claim 1, at least one of the pump unit and theoperating unit includes a position determination module.
 8. A method forcontrolling a vacuum pump comprising a pump unit with a pumping set andan operating unit arranged spaced from the pump unit, the pump unit andthe operating unit being connected with each other bidirectionally andexclusively in a wireless manner, the method comprising the steps of:continuously transmitting signals from the pump unit to the operatingunit and vice versa, continuously supervising the reception of theoperating unit signals in the pump unit and of the pump unit signals inthe operating unit, and operating the pumping set in a safety mode whenan interruption of the continuous reception in at least one of the pumpunit and the operating unit is detected.
 9. The method of claim 8,further including: continuously transmitting a control signal from theoperating unit to the pump unit as long as a fault-free reception in theoperating unit is detected, continuously supervising the reception ofthe control signal in the pump unit, and operating the pumping set in asafety mode when no control signal is received.
 10. A vacuum pump systemwhich performs the method of claim
 8. 11. A vacuum pump systemcomprising: a central operating unit including: a control unit forcontrolling a plurality of vacuum pumping units, a manual input systemthrough which instructions are entered into the control module, adisplay, and a transceiver module which sends wireless control signalsto each of a plurality of vacuum pumping units and receives wirelessinformation signals therefrom; at least one vacuum pumping unitincluding: a vacuum pump, an electronic vacuum pump control module forcontrolling operation of the vacuum pump, a transceiver module forreceiving the control signals from the central control unit and forsending the information signals wirelessly from the vacuum pump controlmodule to the central control unit.
 12. The vacuum pumping system ofclaim 11, further including: a supervisory module connected with thecontrol module of at least one of the central control unit controlmodule and the vacuum pump control module for causing the vacuum pump toenter a safety mode in response to an interruption in communicationsbetween the central control unit and the vacuum pumping unit.
 13. Thevacuum pumping system of claim 11, wherein the central control unitfurther includes: a telephone module for sending maintenance and controldata from the central operating unit to a maintenance center.
 14. Thevacuum pumping system of claim 13, wherein the telephone module operatesunder one of a GSM, HDCSD, GPRS, or UMTS standard and the centralcontrol unit and vacuum pumping unit transceiver modules operateaccording to one of a Blue Tooth and a wireless LAN IEEE 802.11standard.
 15. The vacuum pumping system of claim 11, wherein the vacuumpumping unit further includes: a GPS module which determines a locationof the vacuum pumping unit, the GPS module being connected with thevacuum pump control module for communicating vacuum pumping unitposition information to the central control unit.